[Video] Late Rep. Oberstar Honored by Maritime Community

Last Thursday the M/V Hon. James L. Oberstar, the Interlake Steamship Vessel namesake of the late Oberstar, arrived at the Duluth Ship canal at 9:30 am CDT, and blew a full formal Interlake Fleet Salute in memorial of the Former US Representative. Following custom, the salute consisted of two long blasts followed by three short. Then also in maritime tradition, the bridge returned the long salute. Captain Steve Hughes, a Twin Port native, commanded the ship that was destined for Burns, Harbor Indiana with its 28,000 tons of pelts. 

James L. Oberstar, the longest serving House member from Minnesota, died May 3rd unexpectedly at the age of 79 at his home in Potomac, MD. He is best remembered as the foremost expert on US maritime policy, a proponent for the merchant marines, and a stalwart advocate of American workers. 

Former Representative Oberstar served 18 two-year terms in the US House of Representatives and was chairman of the House Transportation Committee from 2007 until 2011. He represented the 8th District, which holds the largest Great Lake’s port as well as the region’s largest iron ore deposits. 

Oberstar’s father, an iron-miner, had a life-long dream of becoming a merchant marine. When the M/V Hon. James L. Oberstar was named in the statesmen’s honor in 2011, Oberstar stated how deeply moved he was to see his family’s tradition kept alive in a vessel of such great significance for his home region.